Disappearing shower bath



Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

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" 'RALPH D.'-.1FIFIELD; OFlF-OR'E PIEBCE, lFLO'BiIDA.

LDISAP-PEARING SHOWER "BATI-I.

Application filed August To all who-m it may-concern.'

- Be it known, that I, RALPH D.-F1FIELD, a

Y citizen ofthe United States, residing at Fort f 'f Pierce,\in the county `of St'. lmcieand-State of Florida, haveiinvented certain', newand .-usefulr Improvements. ina Disappearing Shower Bathyof 'whichthe vfollowing is a specication.

vThis invention f relates to improvements 1n shower baths, and is 'more particularly adapted to a y'bathing apparatus'which is to :be: positioned within av cabinet,V the .flatter- 1 :being set in a recess provided therefor in the L partition rwall of a-room.

\ Oneof,thefimportant objectsof the pres- Y ent .invention isfto provide a disappearing shower bathfofV the above mentioned chari acter Iwhich* may` Abe` readily 4and `easily Fance of a closet.

folded or collapsed intozthecabinet, and when lthe door: for the latter' isy closed, lthe @bathing :apparatus will be ventirelyiout of view; andthe ,cabinet will have the appear- Avfurther object is to provide a. disappearing shower bath vof the abovennentioned i character which ywill not occupy much space and 1s more particularly adapted Afor use in apartment houses,I small hotels, or in Aresi- .dences where there is-notsufcient space to accommodate a bathing apparatus of' n0n,`

,i collapsible character. A' still further-object yll() the cabinet, the parts being shownl inanop-I is to-provide'a disappearing shower bath of the above mentioned character which is simle in constructiom,` inexpensive, strong yfand durable andlfurtherwell adapted tothe pur# pose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages ofthe in-l,- vention will become apparentduring the: course of the following :descriptiontalren in VI vconnection withthe accompanying' drawings. In the accompanying drawings formi-ng a part of this application :fand in'--whichf:lilre numerals designate like parts Ithroughout the same: i

" Figure l is a fronti elevation of the cab-inet .showing the door in anwopen position, and" illustratingthe*shower bath when set up in position for use.

` Figure 2 1s a side elevation, and awvertical'" sectional view of'thefbathing apparatus :anu

erative position.

1 Figure 3 fisa 'vertical nsectionalwfview -throu=gh the cabinet -showing;th'elbathingl. ap A-, paratusr in 'its collapsed Aorfolded position within'thecabinet,

.f Figure l is a fragmentary det-ail ofthe forward jend of .the pan Ashowing-the handle which provides a supportthereof, and the lowerportionofthe curtain, and i the curtain supporting vrim-showing` the lmechanisml provided for facilitatingl the opening and closing of the curtain atzthe side.

AInlthe drawings wherein for the purpose .of yillustration is shownY the preferred `emb'odimenty ofv my invention-,the lnumeral l Figure 5 is a top plan viewv ofY one side ofy designates generally theleabinet forming a i' 1 lined with; galvanized or copper sheet metal,

although any other suitable :non-rusting metal maybe substituted therefor, the lining being-indicated at 3.

A platform l,` of afsuitable thickness, has arranged Fon the upper face thereof Y the`Y pan 5, and ktheupperedges of the sideslof the pan are curved inwardly as at 6 toprovide a splash guard,` the purpose of .n which will hereinafter be=-1nore"fully described. This panis pivotally supported' at-its rear lend betweenthe'lsidesfofcthe;cabinet l adjacent the bottom thereof yas vat 7 ,l the pivot being preferably arranged-adj acentthe open front side ofthe'fcabinet so as to permit the pan to swing. upwardly and be disposed within the cabinetv :when inl an f inoperative position. Therear end ofthe -panf isopen and depending from the bottom thereof is the drip lip S. f A trough 9 is arrangedin the Vbottom of the 'cabinet' directly below the pivot 7, and communicates withthe open rear end ofthe pan andthelip 8 for receivingthe water from the pan, and convey-ing` the same to a waste outlet pipe-'10- 'which extends downywardly through theV floor-and leads to the sewer ,-(not shown).

For thepurposeofsupporting the forward end'of the. platform and pan 5, when theglatter is swungoutwardly for-fuse, I provide. the Vcentral supporting uneinber 1l, the samebeing formed the shape of a U-sha'ped bail,the free ends of the arms of' whichare pvotally secured inI suitable,` brackets 12 provided therefor on the bottom of the platform 4 adjacent the forward edge thereof. This bail also provides a handle for facilitating the grasping of the pan and the platform for swinging the same either upwardly or downwardly. Additional supporting members 13 are arranged at the sides of the platform adjacent the forward edge thereof as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. These additional supports are also pivotally associated with the platform, and it is obvious that when the platform and pan carried thereby is swung upwardly into the cabinet, the supporting members will automatically swing downwardly and be disposed against the bottom face of the platform, as shown in Figure 3.

A substantially U-shaped rim 14 which is formed of strap iron or steel, and is coated with a `non-rusting metal, has its arms piv otally secured adjacent their free ends to the respective sides of the inner walls of the cabinet 1 adjacent the forward portion of the top thereof as indicated at 15. A water proof curtain 16 is adapted to be secured along one of its sides, and its front portion to the rim 14, and the pan 5, the lower portion of the curtain extending` downwardly within the upper portion of the pan in the manner as clearly illustrated in Figure 4. One side of the curtain is free to slide on the adjacent side of the rim, and pan, as will be presently apparent.

Associated with the inner side of the arm '17 of the U-shaped rim 14, and the adjacent side of the pan 5 are the arms 18 and 19 re'- spectively, the same being pivotally connected at their inner ends as at 20. The outer end of the arm 18 is pivotally con nected to a ring 21, as at 22. This ring 21 is adapted for slidable movement along the rear portion of the arm 17, as is indicated in Figure 5. The outer end of the other arm 19 is pivotally secured to the arm 17 adjacent the forward end thereof as at 23. It is of course understood that a similar arrangement is provided for the adjacent side of the pan 5. rlhe respective edges of the free side of the curtain are secured to these hingedly connected arms in any suitable manner so as to be actuated thereby, and it is obvious that when a free side of the curtain is moved forwardly, the arms 18 and 19 will swing inwardly in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, thus opening one side of the device to permit a person to enter the bathing apparatus. llhen the free side of the curtain is released, a spring 24 which is secured to the inner side of the forward portion of the rim 17 will have its free end exerting outward pressure on the forward portion of the arm 19, so as to automatically return the arms to their normal positions and thus close the entrance to the bathing apparatus. The

links 25, the same being arranged on opposite sides of the pan and rim, as shown in the drawings. The upper ends of these elongated links are pivotally connected to the rear free ends of the arms of the U-shaped rim 14, as illustrated at 26, and the lower ends of these links are pivotally connected to the respective sides of the rear portion of the platform 4, adjacent the rear end thereof, and at a point forwardly of the pivot 7 as illustrated at 27.

It is obvious that when the pan 5 is swung upwardly, into the cabinet, the lower por tion of the curtain 16 will be drawn together and disposed within the pan, and when entirely within the cabinet, the hook 28 which is pivotally secured'on the rear wall of the cabinet will engage the forward end of the pan and platform, and hold the same in its outwardly swung position. rEhe rim 14 is swung downwardly on its pivots 15 into the cabinet, in the manner shown more clearly in Figure 3, and when the parts are so arranged, the door 2 may then be swung to a closed position, thus entirely concealing the bathing apparatus.

In order to set up the shower bath for use, after the door has been opened, the hook 28 is released and by grasping the bail 11, and pulling the same outwardly, the pan 5 will swing outwardly and downwardly on its pivot 7, and during the downward swinging movement of the pan, the links 25 will automatically cause the rim 14 to swing outwardly and upwardly to the position shown in Figure 2, and thereby place the shower bath in an operative position, and ready for use.

A shower head 29, of any conventional construction is swivelly supported as at 30, a supply pipe 31 extends along the rear wall of the cabinet, and is connected with the nozzle, or shower head 21 for supplying water thereto. A supply pipe 31 provided with a lateral extension which leads through the side of the cabinet and communicates with a suitable source of water supply (not shown). A control valve 32, of any coni ventional construction, is associated with the supply pipe and is located at a point within easy reach of the person using the bathing apparatus.

An electric light 33 is also arranged in the cabinet in the top thereof for illuminating the apparatus whenever it is necessary.

loe)

A bathing apparatus of the above mentione'd character is particularly adapted for use in apartmentvhouses, small hotels, or private residences, where there is inadequate space for accommodating a shower bath, and by placing the cabinet in which is arranged the shower bath in a recess in the partition wall, the same will not consume much space, and when the shower bath is not in use, the cabinet will present a neat appearance, and will simulate a closet.

The simplicity in which the present apparatus is constructed enablesthe same to be readily and easily installed, and will at all times be positive and etlicient in'its operation, and there will be no possibility of any water splashing onto the iioor B when the bathing apparatus is in use. This is due to the construction of the splash guard with respect to the lower edge of the curtain.

Ihile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted. to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of the appended claims. l

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is l. In a disappearing shower bath, a cabinet adapted to be set into a wall, a door for said cabinet, a pan vpivotally supported at its rear end in the bottom of the cabinet, a rim hingedly supported adjacent its rear end in the upper portion of the cabinetxa curtain supported at its upper edge on said rim, said pan and the rim and the curtain carried thereby adapted to be disposed entirely within the cabinet when in a collapsed position, and means for operatively connecting the pan with the rim whereby said rim will be automatically swung outwardly and upwardly simultaneous with the downward and outward swinging movement of the pan, said means comp-rising a pair of links pivotally connected at their lower ends to the opposite sides of the pan adjacent the pivoted rear end thereof, the upper ends of the links being connected to the rear end portion of the side of the rim at a point rearwardly of the pivotal support for said rim.

2. In a disappearing shower bath, a cabinet adapted to be set in a wall, a door for said cabinet, apan pivotally supported at its rear end in the bottom of the cabinet, a curtain supporting bracket pivotally supv ported at its rear end in the upper portion of the cabinet, a curtain secured at its upper edge to said bracket, and extending downwardly into the pan, means for facilitating the opening of the curtain, and means for automatically returning the curtain to its closed position when the pressure thereon is released, said means comprising a pair of arms hingedly connected together at their inner opposed ends, the outer end of one arm being pivotally secured to said bracket, the outer end of the other arm being slidable on the bracket, a portion of the curtain being secured to said arms, and means for automatically returning the curtain to its closed positioiiwhen pressure on the curtain is released.

3. In a vdisappearing shower bath, a cabinet adapted to be set in a wall, a door for said cabinet, a pan pivotally supported at its rear end in the bottom of the cabinet, a curtain supporting bracket pivotally supported at its rear end in the upper portion of the cabinet, a curtain secured at its upper edge to said bracket, and extending downwardly into the pan, means for facilitating the opening of the curtain, and means for automatically returning the curtain to its closed position when the pressure thereon is released, said means comprising a pair of arms hingedly connected together at their inner opposed ends, the outer end of one arni being pivotally secured to said bracket, the outer end of the other arm being slidable on the bracket, a portion of the curtain being secured to said arms, and a spring element secured on the bracket and engaging the arm which is hinged to the bracket.

4. A disappearing shower bath, a cabinet adapted to be set into a wall, a door forA tlie cabinet, a pan pivotally supported at its rear end in the bottom of the cabinet, a rim hingedly supported adjacent its rear end in the upper portion of the cabinet, a curtain supported at its upper edge -on the rim, said an andthe rim and curtain carried thereby adapted to be disposed entirely within the cabinet when in a collapsed position, means for operatively connecting the pan with the rim whereby the same are adapted for simultaneous actuation, said means comprising a pair of links pivotally connected at their lower ends to the opposite side of the pan adjacent the pivoted rear end thereof, the upper ends ofthe links being pivotally connected to the rear end portion of the sides of the rim ata point rearwardly of the pivotal support for the rim, and a pivoted bail carried by the upper side of the forward rportion of the pan, said bail adapted to provide a support for engagement with the floor when the pan is swung outwardly to an operative position.

In testiuonv whereof I aflix my signature.

RALPH D. FIFIELD. 

